Tom Homer homes in on top honours

TOM HOMER has been described by his club coach as a certainty to play for England one day.

But while a national call-up may be on the London Irish full-back’s mind, it is very nearly the last thing compared with doing whatever it takes to ­alleviate the Exiles’ precarious position of bottom-but-one in the Premiership – starting at Gloucester today.

Director of rugby Brian Smith’s belief in Homer is no ordinary tribute. Team-mates Alex Corbisiero and Jonathan Joseph may soon be on their way out of the club. Not Homer. It is less than two months since he agreed a new two-year deal.

“Tom is a world-class footballer and a future England player,” said Smith, the former England attack coach. “He has a big-match temperament, an incredible boot, and is one of the most complete players in the Premiership. More important, he is an outstanding character and a future leader at this club. You will be hearing a lot more about Tommy Homer.”

This is a 22-year-old who has not played for England Saxons, let alone England, though he has been mentioned publicly by Stuart Lancaster. His journey has taken him from schoolboy fly-half to academy centre and senior wing who is now settled in the London Irish No 15 shirt.

Homer’s 278 Premiership points in 2011-12 gave him the Golden Boot. Since 2008, he has amassed 598 for the Exiles but this season a paltry 17 after a knee problem meant decommissioning the siege gun and passing goal-kicking duties to Ian Humphreys.

“I still practise my kicking as if I were going to do it. I haven’t tapered off at all,” said Homer. “But I had the injury and kicking seriously aggravated it. Ian is a world-class kicker who has been doing a great job.

“From a personal point of view, there are other parts of my game to focus on without that pressure. If I’m needed, I’ll be ready. But I’m not going to fight with Humph. If he’s kicking well, there’s no need.”

Homer is a fine young player but it is the prolific place-kicking that has set him apart – a rare and very valuable quality bound to help stimulate England interest, just as Smith suggests. It has yet to work out that way. With the Exiles struggling, the lad from Salisbury finds himself in a long full-back queue headed by Alex Goode, Mike Brown and Ben Foden – all playing for teams towards the top of the table.

Tom is a world-class footballer and a future England player,

London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith

“It has been good experience to play around the majority of the positions in the back line,” said Homer. “But it’s fantastic to develop the skills needed at 15.

“All those England full-backs are class performers. It is massively competitive there, but that gives me something to aim for. Right now, though, London Irish is the priority. I can’t think ahead. We’re fighting to stay up.”

Relegation talk is “kind of banned” according to Homer – though he did less tactfully note that both Harlequins and Northampton had suffered the drop and returned to the Premiership wiser and stronger.

He said: “There are 10 games left, beginning with Gloucester, and we have to focus on winning those, no matter how.

“I suppose it would help my England prospects if that happened. But, for me, it’s all about making sure that we are still in the Premiership for next season .”

Homer has an intricate tattoo down his left arm that he says depicts good luck. It is time for some to rub off on London Irish.

NORTHAMPTON have recruited former Wasps and England fly-half Alex King to replace Paul Grayson on the coaching team. King, assistant coach of Clermont Auvergne, will move in the summer.

Former Gloucester coach and England No8 Dean Ryan has joined up with Scotland as coach to their forwards for the Six Nations.